Contents

Objective of the Rule

Extent of consultation

Section 1     Application

• 1.1     Title
• 1.2     Date when Rule comes into force

Section 2     Amendment relating to vehicle standards

• 2.1     Scope of the Rule
• 2.2     Application of Rule provisions
• 2.3     Requirements for new tyres
• 2.4     Tread pattern and tyre depth
• 2.5     Modification
• 2.6     Responsibilities of certifiers

Section 3     Amendments to definitions

• 3.1     Insertion of new definitions
• 3.2     Substitution of definition
• 3.3     Amendment to existing definition
• 3.4     Revocation of definition

Objective of the Rule

Land Transport Rule: Tyres and Wheels Amendment 2007 amends Land Transport Rule: Tyres and Wheels 2001, which specifies safety requirements and standards for tyres and the assembly of tyres, wheels, hubs, and axles.

The objectives of this amendment to Land Transport Rule: Tyres and Wheels 2001 are:

• to change the tread depth requirement so that it applies to the latest tread designs as well as to older designs;
• to include Class LE2 vehicles in the table specifying requirements for new tyres;
• to update references in the Rule, and definitions, so that they align with those in Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002.

 

Extent of consultation

For the purposes of consultation, a number of relatively minor amendments proposed to Land Transport Rule: Tyres and Wheels 2001 and 10 other Land Transport Rules were combined into a single draft Rule, Land Transport Rule: Omnibus Amendment 2006 (the Omnibus Amendment Rule). The main purpose of the changes proposed by the Omnibus Amendment Rule was to clarify provisions and correct some errors in Rules.

On 28 June 2006, Land Transport New Zealand sent a letter containing the Rule amendment proposals to about 2200 groups and individuals who had registered an interest in the Rules to be amended, and sought submissions on the proposed changes. The draft Omnibus Amendment Rule was made available through the Land Transport NZ Help Desk and was available together with Questions and Answers on the Land Transport NZ website. The availability of the draft was publicised in metropolitan and selected daily newspapers, Te Karere National News and the New Zealand Gazette. Land Transport NZ received 50 submissions on the draft Omnibus Amendment Rule, of which six commented on the proposed requirements relating to tyres and wheels.

Following consultation, the provisions in the draft Omnibus Amendment Rule were split into 11 separate amendment Rules, including this Rule. The submissions that were received were taken into account in drafting this amendment Rule before it was submitted to the Minister for Transport Safety for signing.

 

Section 1     Application

1.1     Title

1.1(1)     This Rule is Land Transport Rule: Tyres and Wheels Amendment 2007.

1.1(2)     This Rule amends Land Transport Rule: Tyres and Wheels 2001.

 

1.2     Date when Rule comes into force

This Rule comes into force on the 1 November 2007.

 

Section 2     Amendments relating to tyres and wheels

2.1     Scope of the Rule

Paragraph 1.2(2)(b) is amended by omitting “1998” and substituting “2002”.

 

2.2     Application of Rule provisions

Subclause 1.4(2) is amended by omitting “1998” in each place where it appears and substituting in each case “2002”.

 

2.3     Requirements for new tyres

Table 2.1 is amended by inserting “LE2,” after “LE1” in the first column.

 

2.4     Tread and pattern depth

Clause 2.3 is amended by revoking subclause (13) and substituting the following subclause:

“(13) Except as otherwise provided in this clause, a tyre on a motor vehicle must have a tread pattern, excluding any tie-bar or tread depth indicator strip, of not less than 1.5 mm in depth within all principal grooves containing moulded tread depth indicators, and around the entire circumference of the tyre.”

 

2.5     Modification

Paragraph 3.1(1)(b) is amended by omitting “1998” and substituting “2002”.

 

2.6     Responsibilities of certifiers

Section 4 is amended by revoking clause 4.4 and substituting the following heading and clause:

“4.4 Responsibilities of vehicle inspectors and inspecting organisations

“4.4(1) A vehicle inspector or inspecting organisation must not certify a motor vehicle under Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002 if they have reason to believe that the vehicle does not comply with this Rule.

“4.4(2) A vehicle inspector or inspecting organisation must not certify a motor vehicle for in-service fitness if a temporary-use spare tyre is fitted to the vehicle as one of the tyres in operational use.”

 

Section 3     Amendments relating to tyres and wheels

3.1     Insertion of new definitions

Part 2 is amended by inserting the following definitions in their appropriate alphabetical order:

“Inspecting organisation has the same meaning as in Part 2 of Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002.

“Vehicle inspector has the same meaning as in Part 2 of Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002.”

 

3.2     Substitution of definition

Part 2 is amended by revoking the definition of certify and substituting the following definition:

“Certify has the same meaning as in Part 2 of Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002.”

 

3.3     Amendment to existing definition

Part 2 is amended by omitting “Safety” from the definition of Director.

 

3.4     Revocation of definition

Part 2 is amended by revoking the definition of certifier.